An out of work lorry driver made off without paying for red diesel in three separate visits to the filling station at Morrisons.
Garry Abbott got away with fuel worth £23.99 from the Pinchbeck store on March 5 and then repeated the offence twice within a week, taking fuel worth £64.95 on March 18 and £55.66 on March 22.
Abbott (41), of Black Prince Avenue, Market Deeping, was sentenced to a 12 month community order with 80 hours’ unpaid work. He must also pay £144.60 compensation to the supermarket.
Abbott admitted three counts of making off without payment for fuel and admitted driving without a valid licence and insurance. His licence was endorsed and he received six points .
Rebecca Ritson, prosecuting, said the fuel station manager was told by a member of staff on March 5 that a man had stolen some red diesel.
Abbott had gone into the filling station shop, asked which pump delivered red diesel, and returned moments later to buy cigarettes.
He was asked if he had drawn any fuel, but said ‘no’.
Miss Ritson said seconds later a red dot appeared on a screen to show fuel had been drawn.
The manager was on duty himself on March 18 when he saw a red dot on a screen and rang the manager of the main store to check CCTV, which showed a man wearing a red jacket beside a blue Peugeot.
Abbott put fuel into containers and left without paying.
On March 22 filling station staff realised a pump was releasing fuel, but couldn’t see anyone because Abbott was bent down filling up cans.
“There was a red coat involved again which rang alarm bells,” Miss Ritson said.
Mrs Toal, for Abbot, said: “These offences were committed when he was desperate financially.”
She said Abbott had been trying to find work since October.
He has a partner and a four-week-old baby and is trying to provide for them.